Studying the Effect of Lumbar Stabilization Exercise on Proprioception of Lumbosacral Spine in Healthy Young Women

Despite the fact that joint injury influences different aspects of the propriocepion such as posture and balance, and despite the role of rehabilitation programs in increasing the function and activity, the importance of these programs on proprioception has been remained under question. The aim of this study was evaluating the effect of lumbar stabilization exercises on the lumbosacral proprioception in healthy young women. Methodes and Materials: In this clinical trial study, 30 healthy young women were randomly assigned in two exprimental (n=20) and control groups (n=10). Since the change in pelvic position affects on the lumbar spine position, evaluation of the pelvic proprioception was considered as an scale to evaluate the lumbosacral proprioception. Target angle reproducing error for evaluation of the pelvic proprioception was measured by pelvic inclinometer. The lumbar lordosis and pelvic tilt in rest position were measured to examine the probable effects of the exercises on the alignment of the pelvis and lumbar spine. Subjects in the exprimental group attended in ten exercise sessions and subjects in control group did not do any exercises. Proprioception error was measured before and after ten sessions in both groups and analysed by nonparametric tests. In the exprimental group, the absolute proprioception error was reduced statisticaly (P<0.0001) from the 1.4±1.2 in first session to 0.006±0.1 in last session but in the control group the absolute proprioception error did not change significantly. The absolute error was different significantly (P<0.0001) between the two groups after ten sessions. Also there was excelent relationship between the proprioception error at the first session and its changes (R=0.99). The amount of lumbar lordosis and pelvic tilt angle did not change in none of the groups after the sessions. Ten sessions of lumbar stabilization exercises reduces the lumbosacral proprioception error in young healthy women. The amount of this reduction had significant relationship with proprioception error at the first session; that is the subjects who had more innitial error gained more improvement through exercises.